The Wild (Book Four The Hayle Coven Novels)

by Patti Larsen

  Pain met my gaze, hers wide from what she’d been through and just witnessed. “What does it mean?”

  “We have to go.” I dragged myself to my feet, her beside me. This was important, more important that obeying my mother’s orders. My friend and I were connected to the Wild. Maybe that meant we could influence it somehow. “We have to see Mom.”

  She was already pulling away from me, her terror growing. “No!” She staggered over a puddle, almost fell again as I lunged after her. “You won’t trick me. I won’t go back!”

  I lunged for her, missed, slipped myself and ended up face first in a flowerbed. I made it to my feet, but it was too late. Pain was gone. I raced after her, slipping and sliding in the heavy rain, making it to the edge of the driveway near the road in time to see her drive off in a car I didn’t recognize.

  If she stole it, they’d lock her away forever. I’d botched this whole thing very badly. Why didn’t I make Mom listen? I had to get to Pain before she did something even more stupid, and bring her to the coven.

  I spun as another bolt struck out over the lake and froze. The snapshot of light it created drove fear into my heart. The shadow of someone stood watching me. I knew that shadow. Hadn’t he bent over me, blonde hair falling forward, green eyes full of love and hate all together?

  Before I could force myself to act, something hit me hard on the back of the head and the world spiraled into darkness.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Five

  The dark retreated a little, at least from my consciousness. But when I tried to open my eyes, there was no light. I felt something in my mind tighten around my thoughts and hold me still and quiet. It was almost as if I had been shunted aside to observe as the protective spell keeping me latent took an active part.

  I heard strange voices whispering around me, but couldn’t make out individual words. I remembered being in the back yard with Jared, Pain showing up, chasing after her before seeing the shadow of the man from my dream. And, finally the blow to my head knocking me out.

  But who would have kidnapped me? The protective spell whispered a name and flashed a face. Rosetta. But why?

  That answer came with the woman’s own whisper, now clear in my ears. “I’ve brought the unclean one to the master.”

  Unclean one. What was she talking about? Cogs clicked and moved in my head as I tried to connect the dots. I’d heard that term before from someone. Unclean. Then it hit me. Could it be? Was Rosetta one of the Chosen? Had I fallen into the very hands of the ones I’d been looking for all along?

  I couldn’t be that lucky.

  A second voice, this one male, hissed back at her. “You should never have brought her here. He will be furious.”

  “But she is evil still,” Rosetta said with so much heat I knew she must have witnessed my conversation with Galleytrot. “She consorts with demons and plots to destroy the world.” Suspicion confirmed.

  “She is powerless and has been since our leader stripped her of her demon magic.” Demitrius obviously spun the story to his advantage. “Take her back where you found her before she wakes and ruins everything.”

  I felt something touch me, a power I didn’t recognize. I was shocked at first to feel anything until it registered the protective spell controlled everything, including keeping my awake mind shielded from the sorcerer.

  “You’re fortunate no harm has been done,” he hissed at Rosetta. “Return to your duties and never return here again.”

  “I must see the master.” Rosetta’s voice grew louder, no longer whispering. I could feel the Chosen member’s panic.

  “If you trouble Master Strong with this, he will punish both of us.” His voice shook and I wondered what kind of punishment was the norm in the Chosen ranks.

  Rosetta’s breath hissed out. “Very well, I will do as you say.” I felt myself man-handled into the back of a vehicle and the door closed behind me. As the car roared to life and drove away, the spell protecting me reached out and flashed one image of my surroundings to me, almost like a snapshot, before slamming closed again.

  I knew where she was. My demon. I knew how to find her now. The massive stone mansion sprawled in the forest, but I could locate it, I was sure. Not only that, I could share the image with Sunny who could find it by air if necessary.

  Perfect. All I had to do now was reach her or Quaid.

  I was shocked at how far we had to go before the car stopped. Not because it was a great distance, but because Rosetta drove for maybe ten minutes before coming to a halt. My demon was that close for that long and I had no idea? I wanted to scream.

  I held still as she jerked open the door and grunted as she pulled me out of the back of the car by my legs, dumping me on the grass before getting back into her car and driving off.

  I lay there for a full minute before sitting up. My stomach did a slow roll over from the pain lancing through my brain, but after a moment of deep breathing it went away. I touched the goose egg sized bump on the back of my head and was grateful the stupid woman hadn’t cracked my skull.

  My knees supported me, and my balance came back. The sun was just rising as I stumbled up the driveway toward the house with only one thought on my mind.

  I was about to be whole again and I couldn’t wait.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Six

  I was so intent on calling Mom I missed the fact I wasn’t alone when I slipped in the garden doors.

  “You’re out late.” Mrs. Morgan perched on the edge of her expensive sofa, a glass of wine in one hand.

  What was I supposed to say? Your crazy maid hit me over the head and took me to her secret society hang out because I used to be a witch? I didn’t think even she was drunk enough for that.

  “Um…” I had always been a bad liar. “Just needed some air.” Case in point.

  Mrs. Morgan’s lips curled into a sneer she probably thought was a smile. “It’s all right, dear.” She hiccupped mildly as she took a sip from her glass, spilling it down the front of her top. Wasn’t the first time, from the stains on her skirt. “I get it. I saw you girls with the kids last night. That Regan Pater is a delicious young man.”

  Okay, disgusting. And so totally off the mark I needed to defend myself. “I wasn’t with Regan.”

  “Um-hum.” She finished her wine and tottered to her feet. “Rosetta told me she saw you sneak out with him. Really, my lips are sealed.” She set her glass down. “Alison won’t know a thing.” She made a hushing sound with one finger pressed to her lips and a nasty look in her eyes. “Sleep tight.”

  She wove her way out of the room while I stood there and fumed. Like I should care what Mrs. Morgan thought. But I couldn’t help it. Not to mention that evil little Rosetta and her horrid friends with the Chosen.

  Oh, they’d get theirs. Just as soon as I could reach my mom.

  I called immediately but the phone was dead. Stupid storm probably knocked out the line. Now what? My cell was the same, so the towers had to be having problems as well. I threw myself into the shower and got cleaned up and packed while I fumed and kept checking my phone.

  Nothing.

  Nothing.

  Nothing.

  By the time the sun was completely up I was ready to walk home if I had to. I stormed my way downstairs with my bag thumping along behind me and practically ran into Alison at the bottom.

  Her smile faded instantly to disappointment. What did she have to smile about, anyway? Wasn’t she mad at me?

  “I have to go home.” I knew I was being rude but I couldn’t help it. My anxiety ate me up, chewing away at my insides.

  Alison turned away. “Okay. Mom’s driver can take you.”

  I caught a glimpse of Rosetta glaring at me and glared right back at her. She retreated immediately.

  Mrs. Morgan wasn’t up when I left Alison standing there at the front door, looking lost and very sad. I wished I could say something to her to make her feel better, but I just didn’t have it in me. When this was ov
er, if I made it in time, maybe. But the thing was, there was a good chance we’d all be dead before the night was over anyway if I couldn’t get to my demon and stop the Wild.

  It was a horrible drive home. Alone and unable to reach anyone by cell, I was frantic when the trip finally ended and the chauffer dropped me off in my driveway. I flew inside the house and ran from room to room, yelling for Mom, Dad, Sassy, anyone.

  The house was empty.

  Damn, they had to be at the site. It was the only explanation. Which meant I was really out of luck because that was the one place I was forbidden to go.

  So not fair.

  I tried Quaid again, but the lines were still down. Not knowing what else to do, I ran to the Vega’s in the hope he’d be there.

  The garage door gaped open, Quaid’s bike out in the driveway. And to my utter relief he crouched beside it with a handful of tools. I raced toward him and threw myself into his arms as he staggered back in shock.

  “Syd!” He hugged me, hands still full of wrenches and bike parts. “What?”

  “What?” I pulled away from him, mouth gaping. “With everything that’s happening all you can say is Syd, what?”

  Quaid’s lips quirked. “You’re not supposed to be here. Besides, you startled me. It was the best I could come up with on short notice.”

  I wanted to kiss him, but I shoved the impulse aside. More important things to worry about.

  “Jared—Galleytrot—showed up last night.”

  Quaid set down his tools as I spun out everything that happened, from the conversation with the black dog to my encounter with Pain and the connection we had to the Wild. I finished with being dragged unconscious to the Chosen headquarters. When my story finally stumbled to a halt, Quaid nodded.

  “It makes sense,” he said. “Your mom said something was interfering with what she was trying to do. And that something felt like family.”

  Yikes. “Bet that went over well.” They’d be infighting with each other looking for a traitor. Mom would have them all on a short leash.

  “You said it.” Quaid wiped his hands with a rag. “As soon as it gets dark, we’ll contact Sunny.”

  I shook my head, terror running through me, the need to act far stronger than anything I’d ever felt before. “We have to go now. If Pain stole that car, she doesn’t have much time before the cops track her down and drag her back to the hospital. She’s tied to this as much as I am. I need to help her. And I can’t do that without my demon.” He had to understand.

  I could see that he did, but knew right away he would turn me down. “We can’t, Syd, not without help. You’ll be no good to Pain if you’re dead. And since Sunny’s the only one who’s agreed to help us, we need to wait for her.”

  “But Mom.” I knew if I talked to her she’d get it, that we had to act now. Besides, what if Demitrius suspected I knew where he was and left? We’d lose the only chance we had to find my demon.

  I had to have her back. I just had to.

  Quaid gripped my shoulders between his hands and shook me a little, breaking me out of my desperate spiral. “Syd,” he said, “your mom can’t help, none of the coven can. They’re a little busy.”

  I was right, then. They were at the site. “Why aren’t you with them?”

  He made a face and I finally saw his own frustration. “She ordered me to stay out of it. Anyone she thought was too young.” Right. Even though he was super strong and would be a huge help.

  Great logic, Mom. Unless there was more than logic to it. Did she know already what was happening, that it was my demon in the way? Could she be that clever to hope I’d not stand by and do something about it anyway?

  I wouldn’t put it past her.

  Quaid let me go. “We’ll find your demon,” he said. “But we can’t do it alone.”

  I knew he was right. Just didn’t make it any easier.

  “Tonight will be too late. Galleytrot already told me so."

  Quaid looked grim, but nodded. “I know.”

  I hugged myself, but not for long. He reached for me, pulled me against him.

  I’d wait. And heaven help Demitrius when I found him. Because I’d waited long enough.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  That Friday was the longest day of my entire life. I retreated to my house to fidget and pace the time away. I was in my room trying to distract myself with a video game when I heard the kitchen door open and close and the sound of Mom’s voice.

  I raced downstairs to talk to her. She had to know about Galleytrot and Pain. But by the time I made it to the kitchen she was already leaving, her blue and white Mustang racing off down the street.

  Instead, I came face to face with Erica and Gram.

  One looked shocked to see me while the other just looked grumpy.

  “Syd, what are you doing here?” Erica guided Gram to one of the kitchen chairs and absently handed her a chocolate toffee to keep her happy. My grandmother ripped open the wrapper and stuffed the sweet in her mouth while she glared at me like I’d killed her puppy.

  “I have to talk to Mom.” I briefly explained what I learned from Galleytrot. Erica winced when I mentioned him and I felt a momentary pang of regret. He’d been her boyfriend, after all, and she had no idea she’d been dating one of the black hounds of the Wild or harboring the very man who betrayed us all to the Moromonds. Not that they gave him a choice, but still.

  I shoved my way past that. “He said it’s because of Demitrius and my demon.” I finished the story, but purposely left out Pain’s involvement and the fact I now knew where the Chosen leader was. That I would only share with Mom. Not that I didn’t trust Erica, but she had a bad habit of picking and choosing the things she thought Mom should know.

  Meanwhile I was practically bouncing in place, waiting for Erica to jump into action. Part of me wasn’t surprised when she sighed and sank into her own chair though I was horribly disappointed.

  “I’m sorry, Syd,” Erica said. “Maybe if he had gotten to you sooner. But it’s too late. We’re barely holding them back now. Your mom is sure tonight is the night they wake.”

  Galleytrot hadn’t been kidding. “Shouldn’t we at least try?”

  Erica’s smile was tired and small. “We are,” she said. “I’m actually glad you’re here.”

  Really? A warmth spread through my chest when she said that. “Thanks.”

  She stood up and handed me a clutch of chocolate toffees. “You can take care of your grandmother while I get back to your mom.” She headed for the door while the warm feeling shattered, leaving a core of resentment behind. “I’ll send the Vegas for you. They can take you, Quaid and your grandmother to the safe zone with the kids. Just stay put and be safe.” She closed the door firmly behind her.

  Great. Babysitting. I glanced down at Gram who glared while her mouth worked hard around the candy. I was so not in the mood for her attitude.

  It took me shoving her forward, as gently as possible, to settle her in her room. She kept stopping and staring at me, faded blue eyes alternating between tears and absolute rage. I was sweating and panting from the effort by the time I had her seated on the end of her bed with a pile of toffee next to her on the quilt. She ignored them, lips puckering as her eyes narrowed and her sharp nails caught my skin when she grabbed my wrist.

  “It’s close,” she said, voice phlegmy from the chocolate. “And you are being so stubborn.”

  I rolled my eyes at her. “I wish, just once, you’d figure out how to make sense.” I tried to pull away, prying at her fingers, but she was way stronger than she looked.

  “Listen to me.” I looked up, startled, and into her eyes, saw the clarity there. Had I known asking for it would bring it on, I would have done so ages ago. “They won’t survive without us. Without you.” She shuddered, rocking slowly back and forth, humming under her breath as she struggled visibly for control. “Sydlynn,” she whispered, “I’m sorry.” She sucked in a breath. “Here it comes…” The lig
ht in her eyes snapped off in an instant, her nails digging in so hard I gasped and wrenched my hand free. Five lines of blood appeared where she’d cut me.

  I had to lock her up, clearly. Now that her awake moment was over, she eyed me with absolute fury and I knew from experience how much damage she could do when she was pissed off. The crappy part was without power I couldn’t activate the wards to keep her in.

  I closed the door behind me, hoping she’d assume she was trapped. No such luck. On the upside, at least I had something to occupy me. She must have known I was in no position to control her because she spent the next several hours sneaking out of her room and past me, using her magic to her advantage.

  For whatever reason, she didn’t attack me again, so I was grateful. Most times when I led her to her room, she seemed confused and frightened, the rage missing. I don’t know if she thought it was a game or if she felt the need to be with Mom as strongly as I did, but for whatever reason, she was wearing me out.

  At long last the sun began to set. Erica must have forgotten to send the Vegas because no one showed to escort us anywhere. I started to worry about Gram as darkness fell. I couldn’t just leave her like this, but there was no way I was wasting one second of the night. The moment Sunny showed up, I had to go.

  Quaid came through the kitchen door right at sunset. “Ready?”

  I gestured at Gram who lurched to her feet and hugged him with a girlish giggle. “Not exactly.”

  He led her gently down the hall and to her room. Unlike with me, she didn’t give him a bit of trouble, even batted her eyelashes at him like he was her beau. I followed, wondering what he had planned before smacking myself in the forehead. Of course. He could set the wards and I was a total idiot.

  I helped Quaid settle Gram in her favorite place, the end of her bed looking out her window, even fetching an extra large bar of chocolate for her out of guilt. She ignored it as I turned to go, grabbing both of my wrists again, her favorite grip on me these days, the strength of it tearing open the cuts from her nails. Her madness reflected clearly in her eyes, but there was a desperation in them as well I knew came from the part of her that still understood everything.